Device for gel-coating seeds

ABSTRACT

A device for gel-coating seeds includes: a plurality of nozzles into each of which a gelling agent is filled and a seed is charged and held in the gelling agent to form a gel-coated seed; a pair of upper and lower nozzle casings joined with each other through a joint surface; galleries for the gelling agent formed on the junction surface; and passages formed in the lower nozzle casing which extend from the respective galleries to the respective gel-filled portions of the nozzles below the galleries. The nozzles vertically penetrate the upper and lower nozzle casings which may be comprised of a bottom plate and nozzle sleeves. The joint surface is arranged higher than a gel-filled portion of each nozzle.

This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/890,044; filed Jul. 25, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,631,691, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for gel-coating seeds and more particularly to a device which continuously and simultaneously coats a plurality of seeds with a gelling agent, wherein the device is applicable to a whole size of seeds.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there is a well-known device for coating seeds with a gelling agent mixed with nutriment, medicament or the like, which has a plurality of nozzles into which respective seeds are dropped and the gelling agent is filled. The process of gel-coating a seed in each of the nozzles is performed as follows:

First of all, a little amount of gelling agent is discharged into the nozzle so as to form a gel-membrane blocking in a bottom tip of the nozzle. Next, a seed is dropped into the nozzle so as to be caught with the gel-membrane. Then, the gelling agent is more filled into the nozzle so as to thicken the gel-membrane, thereby gel-coating the seed. This gel-coated seed falls from the bottom tip of the nozzle with its empty weight.

Incidentally, the gel-coated seeds from the nozzles fall into hardener solution. The gel-coated seeds are conveyed in the hardener while their gel-coats are hardened. Then, the gel-coated seeds are carried into a rinsing unit such that the hardener stuck on the gel-coated seeds is rinsed out. Thus, the gel-coated seeds are finished to be products.

The nozzle unit of the conventional device for gel-coating seeds as mentioned above has a drawback such that each nozzle is supplied into its bottom tip with a gelling agent, which is substantially horizontally discharged from a longitudinal or lateral side of the nozzle. If the pressure for discharging the gelling agent is insufficient, it may happen that the gel-membranes, i.e., the gel-coated seeds cannot be formed.

Besides, the gel-coated seeds fall from the bottom tips of the nozzles with their empty weight. If the seeds are very small, it may happen that the seeds do not acceptably fall from the nozzles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device for gel-coating seeds having a nozzle into which a gelling agent is filled and a seed is charged and held in the gelling agent to form a gel-coated seed which is then allowed to fall. The nozzle vertically penetrates a nozzle casing which is divisible up and down. A joint surface through which the upper and lower parts of the nozzle casing are joined together is disposed higher than a gel-filled portion of the nozzle. A gallery for the gelling agent is formed on the joint surface. The lower part of the nozzle casing is formed therein with a passage from the gallery to be connected to the gel-filled portion below the gallery. Due to such a structure, the gelling agent is charged downward into the gel-filled portion of the nozzle. Therefore, the pressure for discharging the gelling agent is increased to surely form a gel-membrane for receiving the seed.

The gallery for the gelling agent may be compactly formed into a groove which is circular centering a horizontal section of the nozzle, when viewed in plan, thereby enabling the gelling agent to be sufficiently stored around the nozzle.

The passage from the gallery to the gel-filled portion of the nozzle may comprise a pair of paths arranged in opposite to each other with respect to an axis of the nozzle to communicate to the gel-filled portion. More than one of the pair of paths may be disposed at regular intervals. Therefore, the gelling agent is evenly dispersed and filled into the gel-filled portion of the nozzle from all the paths, thereby forming an even gel-membrane.

Preferably, a device for gel-coating seeds according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of nozzles in each of which a gelling agent is filled and a seed is charged and held in the gelling agent so as to from a gel-coated seed which is then allowed to fall. Each of the nozzles vertically penetrates a pair of upper and lower nozzle casings joined with each other through a joint surface arranged higher than a gel-filled of the nozzle. A gallery of the gelling agent is formed on the joint surface for each of the nozzles. In an embodiment, the lower nozzle casing may be comprised of a bottom plate and nozzle sleeves mounted thereon. The nozzle sleeves are provided for the respective nozzles. Each of the passages is formed in the lower nozzle casing with a passage extended from the gallery to the gel-filled portion below the gallery.

Due to such a structure, the gelling agent is charged downward into the gel-filled portion of each of the nozzles. Therefore, in each of the nozzles, the pressure for discharging the gelling agent is increased to surely form a gel-membrane for receiving a seed. Further, the device for gel-coating seeds is available for coating a large amount of seeds or other particles in one operation, wherein various kinds or sizes of particles are applicable. In a case where the lower nozzle casing is comprised of a bottom plate and nozzle sleeves, if a passage of one of the nozzles is blocked or has any other troubles, what is required is to detach-and-attach or change only the nozzle sleeve corresponding to the troubling nozzle because the nozzle sleeves are independently and individually replaceable and detachable not only from the upper nozzle casing but also from the bottom plate of the lower nozzle casing. Consequently, the device for gel-coating seeds facilitates detaching-and-attaching work of the lower nozzle casing and contributes to lowering costs.

Further preferably, each of the nozzle sleeves may be constituted by a plurality of parts detachably attached to each other. Therefore, any of the parts may be changed so as to facilitate maintenance of each of the nozzles.

Furthermore, a nozzle intermediate portion is formed into an open/close portion that can be switched between opening and blocking states. Compressed air can be charged into a portion of the nozzle between the open/close portion and the gel-filled portion. The air is charged synchronously with the blocking state of the open/close portion. Therefore, this air pressure surely makes the gel-coated seeds, even if they are granular and light, fall from the nozzle.

Incidentally, the open/close portion of the nozzle may be constituted by reciprocally inserting an open/close member, in which a part of said nozzle is formed, into the nozzle casing forming the nozzle. In the same nozzle casing, an air chamber is formed so as to communicate with a portion of the nozzle between the open/close portion and the gel-filled portion. A piston interlocking with the open/close member is reciprocally inserted into the air chamber so as to pressure-charge air into the nozzle. Therefore, the above-mentioned structure wherein gel-coated seeds are dropped by air-pressure can be obtained.

Furthermore, if there are disposed a plurality of the nozzles, a means for integrally reciprocating all the open/closing members and the pistons provided to the respective nozzles may be provided so as to exert the effort of the compressed air to all the nozzles simultaneously.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the related art, certain objects and advantages of the invention have been described above. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Further aspects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments which are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a device for gel-coating seeds according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a processing unit of the device.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a sectional front view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a sectional front view of a valve casing and a first nozzle block.

FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of the same wherein an open/close rod and a compression pin in the nozzle casing are slid leftward.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a lower nozzle casing.

FIG. 10 is a sectional front view of a gel passage in the lower nozzle casing.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along an X—X line of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a left side view of a second nozzle block having a plurality of nozzles.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 14 is a sectional front view of the same.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of an outer nozzle sleeve of a lower nozzle casing in the second nozzle block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Detailed description will be given on the present invention in accordance with the accompanied drawings.

First of all, an entire structure of a device for gel-coating seeds of the present invention will be described in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3. The device for gel-coating seeds comprises a seed charging unit 1, a processing unit 2, a hardening unit 3 and a rinsing unit 4, which are all supported by a base frame 10. Base frame 10 can be easily carried because it is provided at its lower portion with casters 12. Seed charging unit 1 comprises a hopper 13, absorption tips 16, a carrier 17 for moving absorption tips 16, and so on. Processing unit 2 is disposed at the upper middle portion of base frame 10. Processing unit 2 receives seeds from seed charging unit 1 and coats them with a gelling agent so as to form a predetermined size of gel-coated seeds which are then allowed to fall.

Hardening unit 3 comprises a tank 19 extended rightward from the lower portion of processing unit 2 on base frame 10. Hardener is filled in tank 19. Tank 19 is formed at its right end in opposite to processing unit 2 with a dropping outlet 20. A conveyor belt 21 is disposed above tank 19. Paddles 22 are provided at regular intervals on the outer surface of conveyor belt 21 so as to project perpendicularly to the conveying direction of conveyor belt 21. Conveyor belt 21 is driven with a motor 26.

Due to this structure, the unhardened gel-coated seeds dropped from processing unit 2 fall into tank 19 and are brought into contact with the hardener. Conveyor belt 21 is rotated such that paddles 22 push the gel-coated seeds in tank 19. Finally, the gel-coated seeds reach dropping outlet 20 and fall therefrom to rinsing unit 4. For adjusting the time for this hardening process, the rotary speed of motor 26 is controlled so as to adjust the speed of conveyor belt 21, thereby adjusting the degree of hardness of the gel-coats of seeds.

Rinsing unit 4 is disposed at an approximately middle portion in base frame 10. Rinsing unit 4 is extended leftward from the lower portion of dropping outlet 20 and formed at its left end with a final outlet 23. A product container 24 is located below final outlet 23. Rinsing unit 4 is structured similarly with hardening unit 3 such that paddles 28 provided on a conveyor belt 29 which is driven with a motor 27 convey the gel-coated seeds so as to drop them into product container 24.

In this structure, rinsing water is filled in a tank 25. The gel-coated seeds, which have been hardened to the predetermined degree, are dropped from dropping outlet 20 via a guide member 30 into the right end of rinsing tank 25 and sunk in the water. Motor 27 is rotated to convey the gel-coated seeds to outlet 23. During this conveying, the hardener is rinsed out of the gel-coated seeds, thereby stopping further hardening of the gel-coats of the seeds. Then, the gel-coated seeds are dropped from final outlet 23 into product container 24.

Next, processing unit 2 will be detailed in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6. As shown in FIG. 1, attachment plates 51 are erected respectively at front and rear ends on the approximately lateral middle portion of base frame 10. A base plate 53 is longitudinally laid between the top ends of attachment plates 51. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, on base plate 53 is fixed a longitudinally elongated valve casing 54. In front of valve casing 54 is disposed a valve cylinder 55, from which a piston rod 55 a projects rearward toward valve casing 55 a. At the right side of valve casing 54 are disposed a plurality of parallel discharging cylinders 56, from which respective piston rods 56 a project toward valve casing 54. An air cylinder, an electromagnetic solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder or the like is adaptable to valve cylinder 55 and discharging cylinders 56. At the left side of valve casing 54 is fixedly provided a nozzle block 58 formed with a plurality of vertical nozzles 98 which are aligned longitudinally. Hence, processing unit 2 is provided with (in this embodiment, eight) discharging cylinders 56, nozzles 98 and the like which are respectively as many as absorption tips 16, thereby enabling gel-coating plural seeds simultaneously.

A first valve 61 and a second valve 62 which are formed into rods slidably penetrate valve casing 54 in the longitudinal direction. A horizontal plate serving as a shutter 63 is disposed below nozzle block 58. First valve 61, second valve 62 and shutter 63 are fixed at their front ends to a connection member 64 fixed to piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55. Accordingly, piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55 is actuated to move first valve 61, second valve 62 and shutter 63 together in the longitudinal direction, thereby simultaneously performing a later-discussed open-and-close operation of plural valve holes 61 a and 62 a and holes 63 a of shutter 63.

A gel charge casing 57 is hung down from the underside of base plate 53 so as to be extended longitudinally along valve casing 54 above base plate 53. Gel charge casing 57 is longitudinally bored with a gel charge hole 57 a. The rear end of gel charge hole 57 a is brought into communication with a gelling (coating) agent tank (not shown) through a hose or the like. Gel charge casing 57 is further provided with a plurality of gel distribution holes 57 b, which are extended upward from gel charge hole 57 a and upwardly open. Base plate 53 is bored with a plurality of vertical through-holes in connection with respective gel distribution holes 57 b.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and others, valve casing 54 is bored with a plurality of first gel passages 54 a which are vertically extended and downwardly open and which are aligned in the longitudinal direction. The lower open ends of first gel passages 54 a are brought into communication with respective gel distribution holes 57 b via the through-holes in base plate 53. Valve casing 54 is laterally bored through with second gel passages 54 b aligned in the longitudinal direction. The top end of each first gel passage 54 a is joined to a halfway portion of each second gel passage 54 b. The left open ends of second gel passages 54 b communicate with respective nozzles 98 of nozzle block 58, as discussed later. Valve casing 54 is formed with diametrically larger plunger chambers 54 c, each of which is disposed at the right side of each second gel passage 54 b and open toward piston rod 56 a of each discharging cylinder 56.

First valve 61 is disposed so as to intersect all first gel passages 54 a at their halfway portions. Second valve 62 is disposed at the left side of the junctions of all second gel passages 54 b to first gel passages 54 a (toward nozzles 98) so as to intersect all second gel passages 54 b at their halfway portions. First valve 61 is vertically and diametrically bored through with valve holes 61 a in correspondence to respective first gel passages 54 a. Second valve 62 is laterally and diametrically bored through with valve holes 62 a in correspondence to respective second gel passages 54 b. As shown in FIG. 4, shutter 63 is formed vertically through with holes 63 a in correspondence to respective drop holes 98 b of nozzles 98.

First and second valves 61 a and 62 a and shutter 63 are located in the longitudinal direction so that, at the same time when valve holes 62 a communicate with respective second gel passages 54 b, holes 63 a communicate with respective drop holes 98 a and valve holes 61 a are offset at their one pitches from their opening positions so as to block first gel passages 54 a. Then, first and second valves 61 a and 62 a and shutter 63 are connected together with connection member 64. This state of first and second valves 61 a and 62 a and shutter 63 is established by locating piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55 at a first actuating position. When valve holes 61 a communicate with respective first gel passages 54 a, valve holes 62 a and holes 63 a are offset at their one pitches from their opening positions so as to block second gel passages 54 b and shut drop holes 98 b. This state is established by locating piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55 at a second actuating position.

As shown in FIG. 6, each plunger chamber 54 c is formed at its right portion (its open side portion) into female screw. A cylindrical adjusting screw 66 whose outer end (right end) is formed into a flange is inserted into plunger chamber 54 c while adjusting screw 66 engages at its periphery with the female screw. A plunger body 65 a, which is diametrically larger than second gel passage 62 b, is axially oriented in the lateral direction and disposed in plunger chamber 54 c so as to be freely inserted in adjusting screw 66. In plunger chamber 54 c is interposed a compressed spring 59 around plunger body 65 a between the inward (left) end of plunger chamber 54 c and the inward (left) end of adjusting screw 66. Compressed spring 59 is used as a cushion for a later-discussed stopper 67 when stopper 67 comes to abut against adjusting screw 66.

A plunger 65 whose diameter is approximately as large as that of second gel passage 54 b projects coaxially from each plunger body 65 a so as to be slidably inserted into each second gel passage 54 b. Also, a thread rod 65 b projects coaxially rightward (outward) from each plunger body 65 a. Stopper 67 is screwed around each thread rod 65 b to be allowed to abut against the outer end flange of adjusting screw 66. At the outside of stopper 67, each thread rod 65 b is screwed into a female screw formed in a tip of each discharging cylinder 56. Therefore, plunger body 65 a, plunger 65 and stopper 67 are actuated integrally with the actuation of each piston rod 56 a. The position of piston rod 56 a at the time when stopper 67 abuts against the flange of adjusting screw 66 is defined as the maximum extensive position thereof, which is adjusted by rotating adjusting screw 66 so as to adjust the position of its flange in the axial direction of adjusting screw 66. Therefore, the stroke of plunger 65, i.e., the position of the tip of plunger 65 at its maximum stroke is adjusted, thereby enabling adjusting the discharge amount of the gelling agent. Incidentally, the tip of plunger 65, even when adjusted at its leftward limit position (toward nozzle block 58), is located in each second gel passage 54 b rightward (toward discharging piston 56) from the junction of second gel passage 54 b with first gel passage 54 a.

Discharging cylinders 56 are structured so that their piston rods 56 a are extended at several steps. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, each discharging cylinder 56 is constituted by a first cylinder 56 b and a second cylinder 56 c connected with each other in series, thereby establishing two steps in its actuation. For the first step, first cylinder 56 b is actuated to thrust out piston rod 56 a together with a piston (not shown) of first cylinder 56 b. For the second step, second cylinder 56 c is actuated to thrust out only piston rod 56 a separately from first cylinder 56 b.

Description will be given on the control of first and second valves 61 and 62 and shutter 53, and the control of plungers 65 with the actuation of discharging cylinders 56 during one process of charging the gelling agent into the nozzles. At the beginning, while the gelling agent is filled from gel charging hole 57 a to all gel passages 54 a, piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55 is actuated to the first actuating position. Therefore, first valve 61 blocks first gel passages 54 a, in other words, valve holes 61 a are offset from respective first gel passages 54 a so as not to send the gelling agent to gel charge casing 57 during the next extensive slide of plungers 65. Simultaneously, second gel passages are fully opened with respective valve holes 62 a of second valve 62. At this time, shutter 63 is located to arrange holes 63 a just under respective drop holes 98 b of nozzles 98.

From this condition, the plurality of discharging cylinders 56 are simultaneously actuated to advance plungers 65 slidably, thereby discharging the gelling agent, which has been filled in second gel passages 54 b, into respective nozzles 98. More specified, the first actuation step of discharging cylinders 56 is established such that first cylinders 56 b is actuated to slightly advance plungers 65 (leftward). Therefore, a little amount of the gelling agent is discharged and formed into gel-membranes which are blocked in respective drop holes 98 b at the lower end portions of nozzles 98. Then, seeds are dropped from absorption tips 16 above respective nozzles 98 and held in the gel-membranes at respective drop holes 98 b of nozzles 98. Next, the second actuation step of discharging cylinders 56 is established such that second cylinders 56 c are actuated to further advance plungers 65, thereby thickening the gel-membranes holding the seeds in respective nozzles 98. When the gel-membranes become sufficiently thick, the gel-coated seeds fall with their empty weight from respective drop holes 98 b through holes 63 a of shutter 63 so as to be transferred to hardening unit 3 for the next process.

Then, piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55 is switched to the second actuating position. Therefore, holes 63 a of shutter 63 are offset from respective drop holes 98 b of nozzles 98 so as to prevent nozzles 98 from leaking the gelling agent through drop holes 98 b. Simultaneously, second valve 62 blocks second gel passages 54 b so as to stop the gelling agent from being discharged to nozzles 98. First valve 61 opens first gel passage 54 a with valve holes 61 a so as to fill the gelling agent from gel charging hole 57 a through respective first gel passages 54 a to the upstream sides of second valve 62 in respective second gel passages 54 b, thereby being prepared for the next process of gel-discharging to nozzles 98.

Description will be given on the structure of nozzle block 58 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, nozzle block 58 comprises an upper casing 70 and a lower casing 71. The left top portion of lower casing 71 is made to fall a degree so as to form a joint surface. Upper casing 70 is spaced from the left end surface of valve casing 54 and fixedly placed on the joint surface. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of rods 73 laterally inserted into upper casing 70 project rightward so as to be disposed between the right end of upper casing 70 and the left end of valve casing 54.

Upper and lower casings 70 and 71 are formed vertically throughout with nozzles 98 which are as many as absorption tips 16. More specified, funnel-shaped casting holes 98 a formed in upper casing 70 communicate with respective drop holes 98 b formed in lower casing 71 through the joint surface between both casings 70 and 71. Incidentally, a pipe 99 penetrates the joint surface between both casings 70 and 71 so as to prevent each of seeds from being hitched on the step between casting hole 98 a and drop hole 98 b which are diametrically different from each other.

As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, lower casing 71 is laterally bored with connection holes 71 b whose right ends communicate with respective second gel passages 54 b. The left ends of connection holes 71 b are curved vertically upward to be open at the joint surface between upper and lower casings 70 and 71.

As shown in FIG. 9 and others, on the joint surface of lower casing 71 are formed distribution grooves 71 c, which are circular centering respective drop holes 98 b in horizontal section when viewed in plan. Distribution grooves 71 c, serving as galleries for the gelling agent, communicate with open ends of respective connection holes 71 b. Each distribution groove 71 c is formed over a range of 270° from left-rear 45° position to left-front 45° position with respect to each drop hole 98 b. Discharging holes 71 d are bored in lower casing 71 at 90° intervals from four positions of front and rear leftward 45° positions and front and rear rightward 45° positions, which are symmetric to the front and rear leftward 45° positions, in each distribution groove 71 c. The lower ends of four discharging holes 71 d are connected to a lower peripheral surface of each drop hole 98 b with the same height such that the gelling agent can be discharged into the lower portion of each drop hole 98 b from four directions at 90° intervals.

Furthermore, on the top joint surface of lower casing 71 is formed seal grooves 71 e and 71 f, which are circular centering each drop hole 98 b. In the radial direction of each drop hole 98 b, seal groove 71 e is disposed inward from distribution groove 71 c and seal groove 71 f is disposed outward from distribution groove 71 c. Seals are engaged into respective seal grooves 71 e and 71 f, and then, upper casing 70 is fixedly mounted on lower casing 71. Therefore, the seal in seal groove 71 f prevents the gelling agent from leaking outward along the junction surface of casings 70 and 71 from each distribution groove 71 c. Also, the seal in seal groove 71 e prevents the gelling agent from leaking inward to nozzle 98 from each distribution groove 71 c.

In this manner, the gelling agent discharged from each second gel passage 54 b by plunger 65 flows into each distribution groove 71 c through each connection hole 71 b so as to be evenly distributed among discharging holes 71 d, and is discharged into the lower portion of each nozzle hole 98 b so as to surely block this portion. Therefore, in each nozzle 98 is surely formed the gel-membrane for catching and holding a seed dropped thereinto, thereby surely forming gel-coated seeds. Consequently, the precision of processing gel-coated seeds can be improved.

Upper casing 70 is laterally bored with insertion holes 70 c intersecting respective casting holes 98 a. Open/close rod 73 is laterally slidably inserted into each insertion hole 70 c. Open/close rod 73 is a switching member which forms an intermediate portion of each nozzle 98 (casting hole 98 a) into an open/close portion. Each open/close rod 73 is bored vertically throughout with a hole 73 a in correspondence to each casting hole 98 a. Right end portions of open/close rods 73 project rightward from upper casing 70 and engage with a single interlocking plate 96 which is approximately as long as nozzle block 58 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, right end portions of open/close rods 73 are connected through interlocking plate 96 to a tip of a piston rod 95 a of a nozzle open/close cylinder 95 disposed on the upper longitudinal middle portion of valve casing 54. An air cylinder, an electromagnetic solenoid or a hydraulic cylinder may be provided as nozzle open/close cylinder 95. Consequently, by single nozzle open/close cylinder 95, open/close rods 73 of respective nozzles 98 fixed to interlocking plate 96 are simultaneously slid in respective insertion holes 70 c. Nozzles 98 are opened when holes 73 a are located coaxially with respective casting holes 98 c of nozzles 98, as shown in FIG. 7. And, nozzles 98 are blocked when holes 73 a are offset from so as to make the body of open/close rod 73 cross nozzles 98, as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, nozzles 98 are switched between their opened state and their blocked state. Incidentally, the right portion of each open/close rod 73 projecting rightward from the right side portion of upper casing 70 is formed at its bottom surface with a laterally long groove 73 b.

In upper casing 70, air chambers 70 b are formed just below respective insertion holes 70 c so as to communicate with respective insertion holes 70 c through respective casting holes 98 a and orifices. Air chambers 70 b are open rightward. Compression pins 74 are laterally extended and formed at their left ends with respective pistons 74 a, which are laterally slidably inserted into respective air chambers 70 b. The right ends of compression pins 74 are slidably inserted into the left portion of valve casing 54.

Each compression pin 74 is threaded around. Left and right pin stoppers 97L and 97R, which are nut-shaped, are laterally adjustably fit around each compression pin 74. Each right pin stopper 97R is disposed between the right end of each open/close rod 73 and the left end surface of valve casing 54. A top portion of left pin stopper 97L is arranged in groove 73 b. As shown in FIG. 7, when open/close rods 73 are located to open respective casting holes 98 a through their holes 73 a, the right ends of open/close rods 73 abut against respective right pin stoppers 97R. At this time, piston rod 96 of nozzle open/close cylinder 96 is located at its most retractive position, which is defined as its nozzle opening position. As piston rod 96 is extended, the right ends of open/close rods 73 come to abut against respective left pin stoppers 97L in grooves 73 b and push respective compression pins 74 leftward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, open/close rods 73 block respective casting holes 98 a so that pistons 74 a are deeply inserted in respective air chambers 70 b so as to charge air under pressure from air chambers 70 b into casting holes 98 b below respective open/close rods 73 through the orifices. Consequently, the air is charged to drop holes 98 b. Incidentally, by adjusting the position of left pin stopper 97L on compression pin 74, the timing when each open/close rod 73 comes to abut against left pin stopper 97L by extensive action of piston rod 96 a is adjusted. Therefore, the sliding degree of each piston 74 a in air chamber 70 b, i.e., the amount of air charged into each casting hole 98 a can be adjusted.

Description will now be given on a nozzle block 158 shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, nozzle block 158 formed therein with a plurality of (in this embodiment, eight) vertical nozzles 198 in a longitudinal row is fixed to the left end of valve casing 54. For gel-coating a plurality of (eight) seeds at a time are provided sets of nozzles 198, discharging cylinders 56, etc., which are as many as the absorption tips 16.

As shown in FIG. 14, the nozzle block 158 comprises a single upper casing 171 and lower casings 171 which are as many as nozzles 198. Corresponding to the nozzles 198, respective open/close rods 173 are laterally reciprocally inserted into upper casing 170 and project outwardly rightward into a space between the right end of upper casing 171 and the left end of valve casing 54.

Nozzles 198 vertically penetrates upper casing 170 and respective lower casings 171. Each of nozzles 198 is provided at the top portion thereof with a casting hole 198 a which is tapered for easily receiving seeds cast from each absorption tip 16. Each of nozzles 198 is provided at the bottom portion thereof with a drop hole 198 b formed in each of lower casings 171 so as to communicate with each casting hole 198 a through a joint surface between upper and lower casings 170 and 171. Each nozzle 198 is provided with a vertical seed guide sleeve 199 between casting and drop holes 198 a and 198 b through the joint surface between upper and lower casings 170 and 171. A hole for guiding seeds vertically axially penetrating each seed guide member 199 is tapered at the top portion thereof so as to prevent the difference of diameter between casting hole 198 a and drop hole 198 b from causing such a step as to catch seeds.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, each lower casing 171 comprises substantially vertical cylindrical inner nozzle sleeve 172 a and outer nozzle sleeve 172 b arranged concentrically around the vertical axis of seed guide sleeve 199. A single bottom plate 172 c having a substantially rectangular shape is detachably fixed to the bottom end surface of upper casing 170. Seed guide sleeve 199 is peripherally tightly fitted downward into inner nozzle sleeve 172 a, and inner nozzle sleeve 172 a is inserted downward into outer nozzle sleeve 172 b. A passage 175 for gelling agent is formed between the outer peripheral surface of inner nozzle sleeve 172 a and the inner peripheral surface of outer nozzle sleeve 172 b.

All outer nozzle sleeve 172 b are engaged downward into bottom plate 172 c. In bottom plate 172 c, drop holes 198 b are formed just below respective outer nozzle sleeves 172 b. For each of lower casings 171, bottoms of seed guide sleeve 199, inner nozzle sleeve 172 a and outer nozzle sleeve 172 b are arranged in downward order, and their bottoms are so open as to bring the axial hole for guiding seeds in seed guide sleeve 199 into communication with drop hole 198 b, thereby ensuring a passage for seeds from casting hole 198 a to drop hole 198 b. On the other hand, passage 175 is connected to drop hole 198 b serving as the gel-filled portion so as to charge the gelling agent into drop hole 198 b.

In a lower portion of upper casing 170 are bored lateral passages 170 a for supplying gelling agent to respective nozzles 198. Passages 170 a are connected at right ends thereof to respective second gel passages 54 b. Each passage 170 a is open at the left end thereof on the joint surface between lower casing 171 (in detail, outer nozzle sleeve 172 b) and upper casing 170. Each outer nozzle sleeve 172 b is outer-peripherally notched at the top end thereof so as to provide an annular gallery 171 for gelling agent which is enclosed by outer nozzle sleeve 172 b, upper casing 170 and an upper edge of inner nozzle sleeve 172 a above outer nozzle sleeve 172 a. Each outer nozzle sleeve 172 b is provided at the upper edge thereof with a plurality of notches 171 d arranged at substantially regular intervals along the periphery of outer nozzle sleeve 172 b so as to bring gallery 171 c into communication with passage 175. Preferably, notches 171 b are so arranged that each pair of them are disposed in opposite to each other with respect to the vertical axis of said nozzle 198 to be connected to drop hole 198 b.

For each of nozzles 198, gelling agent discharged from second gel passage 54 b by plunger 65 flows into gallery 171 c and is evenly distributed into notches 171 d so as to be sent into drop hole 198 b through passage 175 from notches 171 b. Thus, the gelling agent is surely filled in the lower portion of drop hole 198 b so as to form a stable gel membrane for catching a seed cast into nozzle 198, thereby enhancing the precise of gel-coating seeds.

For making the plurality of lower casings 171 corresponding to respective nozzles 198, while seed guide sleeves 199 are previously inserted into upper casing 170, inner nozzle sleeves 172 a are inserted into upper casing 170 so as to cover respective seed guide sleeves 199, and outer nozzle sleeves 172 b are inserted into upper casing 170 so as to press inner nozzle sleeves 172 a. Then, single bottom plate 172 c is attached onto the bottom surface of upper casing 170 so that outer nozzle sleeves 172 b are fit at the bottoms thereof into bottom plate 172 c and fixedly engage with respective steps each of which is formed on the joint surface between bottom plate 172 b and upper casing 170. By removing bottom plate 172 c from upper casing 170, inner and outer nozzle sleeves 172 a and 172 b can be easily removed from upper casing 170. Therefore, if any of nozzles 198 in nozzle block 158 is blocked with gel agent or has another trouble, any part of lower casing 171 corresponding to the troubling nozzle 198 is allowed to be repaired or changed independently of the other lower nozzles 171.

As shown in FIG. 14, in each nozzle 198, inner nozzle sleeve 172 a is provided at the top thereof with an annular groove 171 e, and outer nozzle sleeve 172 b is peripherally provided with an annular groove 171 f. Seals are provided in respective grooves 171 e and 171 f so as to abut against upper casing 170, thereby preventing nozzle 198 from leak of gelling agent.

Upper casing 170 is bored with lateral insertion holes 170 c intersecting respective casting holes 198 a. Open/close rods 173 are laterally slidably inserted into respective insertion holes 170 c. Each open/close rod 173 is provided with a vertical through-hole 173 a corresponding to casting hole 198 a so as to constitute an open/close portion for passing/checking seeds at the intermediate portion of nozzle 198 (casting hole 198 a). A single interlocking plate 196 which is substantially longitudinally as long as nozzle block 158 is provided along nozzle block 158. Interlocking plate 196 is provided with a short engaging portion 196 a and a long engaging portion 196 b. Open/close rods 173 project rightward from upper casing 170 and fixedly engage at the right end portions thereof with short engaging portion 196 a of connection plate 196 so as to be connected to piston rod 95 a of nozzle open/close cylinder 95.

By acting single open/close cylinder 95, all open/close rods 173 fixed to interlocking plate 196 are simultaneously slid in respective insertion holes 170 c between an opening position where through-holes 173 a of open/close rods 173 are disposed coaxially to respective casting holes 198 a of nozzles 198, and a closing position where through-holes 173 a of open/close rods 173 are offset from respective casting holes 198 a of nozzles 198 so that open/close rods 173 block respective casting holes 198 c of nozzles 198.

In upper casing 170, air chambers 170 b are formed just below respective insertion holes 170 c so as to be connected to respective casting holes 198 a through respective orifices. Air chambers 170 c are rightwardly open, and compression pins 174 are laterally slidably inserted into respective air chambers 170 c through the right openings thereof. Each compression pin 174 is formed at the portion thereof rightwardly projecting from upper casing 170 with a downward recess 174 a. Long engaging portion 196 b of interlocking plate 196 is fitted into recesses 174 a of all compression pins 174. When piston rod 95 a of nozzle open/close cylinder 95 is contracted, long engaging portion 196 b of interlocking plate 196 comes to abut against compression pins 174 at the right end of recesses 174 a so as to define the minimum stroke of piston rod 95 a of nozzle open/close cylinder 95 corresponding to the opening position of nozzles 198 where open/close rods 173 open respective casting holes 198 a for free passage through respective holes 173 a thereof. When piston rod 95 a of nozzle open/close cylinder 95 is extended, long engaging portion 196 b of interlocking plate 196 slides leftward in recesses 174 a of compression pins 174, and then abuts against compression pins 174 at the left ends of recesses 174 a and presses compression pins 174 leftward. Therefore, while open/close rod 173 shut off casting holes 198 a, compression pins 174 are deeply inserted into respective air chambers 170 b so as to charge air through the orifices into respective casting holes 198 a below open/close rods 173, and into respective drop holes 198 b.

In the foregoing structure of nozzles comprising an open/closing structure and an air pressure-charging structure, description will be given on the actuating timings of open/close rods 73 and compression pins 74 by controlling nozzle open/close cylinder 96 during forming gel-coated seeds in the nozzles in association with the control of valve cylinder 55 and discharging cylinders 56 for filling the gelling agent into the nozzles. In the following description, nozzle block 58 according to the first embodiment will be mainly referred to, so as to represent nozzle block 158 according to the second embodiment having the same function and effect.

At the beginning, as mentioned above, when piston rod 55 a of valve cylinder 55 is located at the first actuating position so that second valve 62 is opened and that first valve 61 is closed, discharging cylinders 56 are actuated to the first actuation step so as to extensively actuate first cylinder 56 b for discharging a little amount of the gelling agent, thereby forming the gel-membranes in the lower portions of drop holes 98 b. At this time, open/close rods 73 are located rearward so as to open respective casting holes 98 a through respective holes 73 a. Then, the seeds are dropped from absorption tips 16 and fall onto the gel-membranes formed in the lower portions of respective drop holes 98 b.

After the seeds fall, discharging cylinders 56 are actuated to the second actuation step so that second cylinders 56 c are extensively actuated to discharge the gelling agent into the lower portions of drop holes 98 b, thereby gel-coating the seeds and dropping the gel-coated seeds from the lower portions of respective drop holes 98 b. Approximately simultaneously, nozzle open/close cylinders 95 are actuated, as shown in FIG. 8, so as to thrust open/close rods 73 into respective casting holes 98 c and block casting holes 98 a. Open/close rods 73 are further thrust in. Just before open/close rods 73 reach their limit positions, compression pins 74 with pistons 74 a are thrust in so as to charge air from air chambers 70 b into casting holes 98 a.

Casting holes 98 a are upwardly air-tightened by respective open/close rods 73 so that the pressure-charged air in casting holes 98 a pressures downward the gel-coats plugging respective drop holes 98 b so as to separate the gel-membranes including seeds from drop holes 98 b. Therefore, the seeds coated with the gelling agent are dropped so as to be formed as gel-coated seeds. Hence, however small the seeds coated with the gelling agent may be so as to be impossible to fall with their empty weight, this charged-air enables the gel-membranes to be discharged from the lower portions of drop holes 98 b without remains stuck on drop holes 98 b, thereby surely forming gel-coated seeds. More specified, processing unit 2 is improved in its general versatility because it is adaptable to various sizes of seeds.

Air chambers 70 b are formed in nozzle block 58 (lower casing 70), and the air-pressure is generated by reciprocating pistons 74 b of compression pins 74 which actuate interlockingly with open/close rods 73 in the blocking actuation. By such a simple structure, air can be charged into drop holes 98 b without another separate member such as a compressor, thereby saving costs.

After dropping the gel-coated seeds from drop holes 98 b, nozzle open/close cylinder 95 is retractively actuated in the opposite direction (rightward) so as to slide open/close rods 73 rightward, thereby opening drop holes 98 b so as to allow seeds to fall. Also, compression pins 74 are moved to the right side portions in respective air chambers 70 b. This series of actuation is repeated so as to form gel-coated seeds continuously.

As shown in FIG. 1, a control box 11 is disposed on a left side portion of base frame 10. A controller is disposed in control box 11. Output means, which are conveyor motor 26 in hardening unit 3, conveyor motor 27 in rinsing unit 4, and valve cylinder 55, discharging cylinders 56 and open/close cylinder 95 in processing unit 2, are connected to the controller, and input means like various sensors are connected to the same. Therefore, the output means are controlled so as to establish the above-mentioned motions.

A device for gel-coating seeds having the foregoing structure of nozzles according to the invention serve as a device which simultaneously coat many seeds in various sides with a gelling agent. Furthermore, by using this technique, a device for simultaneously coating many particles in various kinds and sides with gelling agent in various compositions may be structured. 

1. A device for gel-coating seeds comprising: a plurality of nozzles into each of which a gelling agent is filled and a seed is charged and held in said gelling agent so as to form a gel-coated seed which is then allowed to fall; a pair of upper and lower nozzle casings joined with each other through a joint surface, wherein said nozzles vertically penetrate said upper and lower nozzle casings; galleries for said gelling agent formed on said junction surface; and passages formed in said lower nozzle casing so as to extend from said respective galleries to said respective gel-filled portions of said nozzles below said galleries.
 2. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lower nozzle casing comprises a bottom plate and nozzle sleeves mounted thereon, wherein each nozzle vertically penetrates said upper nozzle casing and each nozzle sleeve, and said galleries are formed between said upper nozzle casing and said nozzle sleeves.
 3. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 2, wherein each gallery is a groove which is circularly formed around each nozzle sleeve.
 4. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 2, wherein each passage comprises a plurality of channels.
 5. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 2, wherein the nozzle sleeves are individually replaceable.
 6. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a vertical guide sleeve contacting the upper nozzle casing and the nozzle sleeve in each nozzle and constituting an inner surface of the nozzle.
 7. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 2, wherein each nozzle sleeve comprises inner and outer members assembled together.
 8. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 7, wherein each passage is formed between said inner and outer members.
 9. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 8, wherein said inner and outer members are disposed concentrically and co-axially with each nozzle.
 10. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of open/close portions for opening and closing the respective nozzles, formed in said upper nozzle casing, wherein each of said open/close portions is disposed at an intermediate or upper portion of each nozzle, and a plurality of air chambers formed in said upper nozzle casing, wherein air, can be charged under pressure from each air chamber into each nozzle, said air chamber being disposed between said open/close portion and said gel-filled portion, wherein, at the same time when air is charged into said nozzle, said open/close portion is closed.
 11. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 10, wherein each open/close portion comprises an open/close member reciprocally slidable across each nozzle wherein when opened, the open/close member constitutes a part of said nozzle.
 12. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 11, wherein each air chamber comprises a piston interlocking with each reciprocally slidable open/close member so as to charge air under pressure into the nozzle when the open/close member is closed.
 13. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 11, further comprising means for reciprocating all of said open/close members and said pistons.
 14. A device for gel-coating seeds, comprising: a nozzle in which a gelling agent is filled and a seed is charged and held in said gelling agent so as to form a gel-coated seed which is then allowed to fall; an upper nozzle casing; a lower nozzle casing joined to said upper nozzle casing through a joint surface, said lower nozzle casing including (i) a bottom plate and (ii) a nozzle sleeve mounted on the bottom plate, said nozzle sleeve including inner and outer members assembled together, wherein said nozzle vertically penetrates said upper nozzle casing and said nozzle sleeve; a gallery for said gelling agent formed between said upper nozzle casing and said nozzle sleeve; and a passage formed in said lower nozzle casing so as to extend from said gallery to said gel-filled portion of said nozzle.
 15. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 14, wherein said passage is formed between said inner and outer members.
 16. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 14, wherein said passage comprises a plurality of channels.
 17. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: an open/close portion for opening and closing said nozzle, formed in said upper nozzle casing, wherein said open/close portion is disposed at an intermediate or upper portion of said nozzle, and an air chamber formed in said upper nozzle casing, wherein air can be charged under pressure from said air chamber into each nozzle, said air chamber being disposed between said open/close portion and said gel-filled portion, wherein, at the same time when air is charged into said nozzle, said open/close portion is closed.
 18. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 17, wherein said open/close portion comprises an open/close member reciprocally slidable across said nozzle wherein when opened, said open/close member constitutes a part of said nozzle.
 19. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 18, wherein said air chamber comprises a piston interlocking with said reciprocally slidable open/close member so as to charge air under pressure into said nozzle when said open/close member is closed.
 20. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 14, wherein said nozzle sleeve is replaceable from said bottom plate and said upper nozzle casing.
 21. The device for gel-coating seeds as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a vertical guide sleeve connecting said upper nozzle casing and said nozzle sleeve in said nozzle and constitute an inner surface of said nozzle. 